R6200v2 not taking any firmware on this site

I posted in another thread that has gotten no replies so I figured I would start a new one. I picked up an R6200v2 from amazon. When I got it, I imediately came to this site to get the latest firmware and upload it to my new router.

None of the firmware worked. All of the firmware said, "Not for this device" so I went to Netgears site and downloaded the firmware for the R6200v2 just to see if maybe it was mis-labeled or something. Sure enough, the Netgear firmware worked perfectly.

Then I tried every firmware on this site I could find for the R6200v2 and ALL of them stated they were not for my device. What gives? Seems like some check is in place that the firmware is not passing.

The device that you bought is a variant of the regular 6300v2 router. It was specifically made for Charter and has a blue stripe on the bottom (instead of the regular green one from the ones you got from a store). Technically they are both the same... the issue is that to distinguish the two the Charter version has a different ID on its motherboard. The update that you are trying to run will check the board ID before upgrading for verification purposes, and since it does not find the "regular" firmware ID it tells you that the update can not be done on this device. If you want to run DD-WRT you need to look for the Kong firware that has the "CH" addition in its filename. This one will pass the board ID check and it gives you a stable version of DD-WRT. I have done the same thing and the update was painless.

Additionally, if you wish to turn this Charter router into a "regular" 6300v2 you have to open up the router, buy a USB-TTL UART cable and access it that way to change the board ID permanently. I have not done it but instructions can be found in the 6300v2 forum. If you manage to complete this task you can use the "regular" 6300v2 firmware for DD-WRT, or even the stock Netgear firmware that you can download on the Netgear website.

All of this info was extremely helpful! I will look for the blue/green stripe when I get home and follow up. Just an fyi, I did download the latest firmware from Netgear and apply it. I am guessing they have sorted this out in their firmware somehow.

Can I ask.. do I lose or gain any functionality by having this "Charter" version?

@netagurion: I am surprised that the Netgear update worked. The cable you listed seems to be the right one. If you check your amazon order, does it specifically say 6200 or 6300 ? IF you have the Charter version (that was just my suspicion) then you aren't losing any functionality. It is only a matter of "labeling" the device differently internally. But yes I would double check what version you have (looking on the sticker on the back helps too) and go from there.

Hmmm you have a 6200 then indeed... yes whatever you are trying to flash has to be specifically for the 6200 (or 6200v2) if you have that one. I found this, which was posted specifically for the 6200v2 in the download section

Now that I am looking in the right spot (bottom front right?) there is no lit up stripe at all. I am not connected to the internet on the router. Is that why there is no stripe or is this thing broken?